A Wedding Your Way

Custom Ceremonies to Fit Your Life

Michelle Oxman, Interfaith Wedding Officiant
Serving the Chicago Area And Northern Illinois

Legal Requirements (Illinois)

Marriage license must be obtained in the county where the ceremony will be held. The couple must go to the clerk's office together. License may be used between 1 and 60 days from date of issuance

Same sex marriage recognized? No.

Age requirements: 18 (16 or 17 with parental or court consent)

Identification requirements are available here.

If your marriage ended within six months before you apply for a license, you must bring a certified copy the divorce or annulment decree or the death certificate.

Locations and Fees

Cook County: $40

Six locations, available here.

DuPage County: $35, payable by cash or check.

One location: 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187

If you have been divorced, you must provide the month, date and year of your divorce at the time you apply for your marriage license.

Lake County: $25, payable by cash or check

18 North County Street, Room 101, Waukegan, Illinois 60085

Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Friday extended hours 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Kane County: $27, cash only

719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. B, Geneva, IL 60134

Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8:30am-4:30pm
Wed: 8:30am-8:00pm

McHenry County: $30, cash only

McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Room 107, Woodstock, IL 60098 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Will County: $28, payable by cash or check at the main county office building. Branch offices accept cash only.

Main office location: 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet IL 60432

Mon-Fri - 8:30 am until 4:30 pm
Saturday Hours¨9:00 am until 12:00 pm
An appointment is necessary to get a marriage license on a Saturday.

Branch office information is available here.

Getting Your Illinois Marriage Certificate

The County Clerk does not automatically mail you a certificate. It must be ordered.

In Cook County, there are five ways to order your certificate, including online or through a currency exchange. The fee is $15 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Additional fees apply if you order online or through a currency exchange.

In DuPage County, you may order by mail or in person. The fee is $10 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same certificate, requested at the same time.

In Lake County, download this form to order by mail. The fee is $8 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You also may order the certificate and pay the fee when you apply for your license.

In Kane County, you can order online, by mail or in person. The fee is $11 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy of the same record. An additional fee applies if you order online.

In McHenry County, you may order in person or by mail. The fee is $12; additional copies ordered at the same time are $2.

In Will county, the fee is $9 for the first certificate and $4 for each additional certificate ordered at the same time. Records also may be ordered online. Information is available here.